Friday, May 06, 2005

Donovan-mania

You remember AtlantisDonovan, the guy with the brocade coat,Used to sing to you about AtlantisYou loved it, you were so involved thenThat was back in the days when you used toSmoke a bananaYou would scrape the stuff off the middleYou would smoke itYou even thought you was getting ripped from itNo problem--Frank Zappa

Yeah, it's hard to live down that stuff about "electrical bananas." But let's talk for a moment about the true coolness of Donovan.

This is the guy who recorded "Hurdy Gurdy Man" backed by what would ultimately become Led Zeppelin. Paul McCartney played on that electric banana tune ("Mellow Yellow"). And, whilst meditating with them in India, Donovan taught the Beatles the fingerpicking guitar style that ended up all over the "White Album." It's said Don may've had a hand in writing "Yellow Submarine," too.

Ever heard "Season of the Witch"?

Donovan is cool. And it's about time what's happening is happening: Four of his prime albums are coming out again, remastered, with loads of extra tracks, due out May 10.

1 comment:

I agree donovan is very good. totally of his time but with some songs that sound fantastic today.mellow yellow is actually the worst song on the mellow yellow album. i love sand and foam and sunny south kensington.